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Abstract:

A wireless terminal switched device port apparatus adapted for use in a
communication system Shaving a switching system member, a radio
transceiver connector element, a wired accessory port connector element,
a wireless transceiver element, and an antenna is disclosed.

13.) The wireless PTT apparatus of claim 12.), further adapted to
transmit a PTT signal from the wireless PTT apparatus to the wireless
terminal switched device port apparatus in the PTT wireless
communications channel.

17.) A method of actuating a wireless terminal switched device port
apparatus, adapted to key a radio transceiver to communicate with a
wireless accessory device, comprising the steps of: (a.) providing a PTT
switch element, adapted for actuating a wireless PTT, wherein the
wireless PTT is adapted to generate a PTT signal readable by the wireless
terminal switched device port apparatus, and; (b.) providing a wireless
communications channel, adapted for communicating the PTT signal from the
wireless PTT to the wireless terminal switched device port apparatus

18.) A means for actuating a wireless terminal switched device port
apparatus, further adapted to key a radio transceiver to communicate with
a wireless accessory device comprising: (a.) a PTT switch element means,
for actuating a wireless PTT, wherein the wireless PTT is adapted to
generate a PTT signal readable by the wireless terminal switched port
device apparatus, and; (b.) a wireless communications channel means, for
communicating the PTT signal from the wireless PTT to the wireless
terminals switched device port device apparatus.

Description:

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This is a divisional patent application, which claims the benefit
of priority from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/228,409
to George, entitled "WIRELESS TERMINAL WITH SWITCHED AUXILIARY DEVICE
PORT APPARATUS AND METHOD" and filed Sep. 8, 2011, which is fully
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent not
inconsistent with the present patent application.

SUMMARY

[0002] In one embodiment of the present teachings, a wireless terminal
switched device port apparatus adapted for use in a communication system
having a wired accessory, a wireless accessory, a radio transceiver
device having an external accessory connector element, is disclosed. The
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus comprises a switching
system member, adapted to switch communications operation between a wired
communications channel and a wireless communications channel upon receipt
of a switching control signal, wherein the switching system member is
further adapted to provide a plurality of interface elements. The
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus further comprises a
radio transceiver connector element, adapted to operatively connect to
the switching system member, further adapted to operatively connect to
the external accessory connector element of the radio transceiver device.
The wireless terminal switched device port apparatus further comprises a
wired accessory port connector element, operatively connected to the
switching system member, adapted to operatively connect to the wired
accessory via the wired communications channel. A wireless transceiver
element is operatively connected to the switching system member, adapted
to operatively connect to the wireless accessory via the wireless
communications channel. An antenna is electrically coupled to the
wireless transceiver element, wherein the antenna is adapted to receive
and transmit electromagnetic signals in the wireless communications
channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be more readily
understood by reference to the following figures, in which like reference
numbers and designations indicate like elements.

[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view for a system employing a
wireless terminal with switched auxiliary device port apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] Referring now to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a wireless terminal
switched device port apparatus 100 adapted for use in a communication
system is disclosed. The wireless terminal switched device port apparatus
100 comprises a switching system member 104, a radio transceiver
connector element 102, a wired accessory port connector element 110, a
wireless transceiver element 106, and an antenna 108.

[0007] The wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 comprises
a switching system member 104 adapted to switch communications operation
between a wired communications channel and a wireless communications
channel upon receipt of a switching control signal. The switching system
member 104 provides a plurality of interface elements for various
communications signals, such as for example control signals or
information signals. In the illustrative exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1,
such communications signals include a Push-To-Talk ("PTT") signal, a
received audio signal (Rx Aud), a transmitted audio signal (Tx Aud), and
a control signal (CONTROL). Such signals can be unidirectional or
bidirectional. The PPT, is used in a two-way wireless transceiver that
switches transmission/reception by performing FM, AM, or PM modulation
using one frequency, is a transmission/reception switchover technique
used by many wireless stations. For example, a user presses a PTT button
during talking, and releases the PTT button during listening. In one
embodiment the PTT button is wirelessly connected to the wireless
terminal switched device port apparatus 100, such as for example via a
Bluetooth® connection.

[0008] The switching system member 104 is operatively connected to the
radio transceiver connector element 102. In one embodiment, the switching
system member 104 is operatively coupled to the radio transceiver
connector element 102 via the plurality of interface elements
facilitating a bidirectional CONTROL signal path, a unidirectional
transmitted audio signal path (Tx Aud), a unidirectional received audio
signal path (Rx Aud), and a unidirectional PTT signal path. The
bidirectional CONTROL signal path facilitates communication of one or
more control signals configured to activate or deactivate distinct
communications channels. The unidirectional Tx Aud signal path from the
switching system member 104 to the radio transceiver connector element
102 facilitates transmission of audio signals from the wireless terminal
switched device port apparatus 100 to a radio transceiver 204 through an
external accessory connector element 202, as shown in FIG. 2. The radio
transceiver 204 prepares the Tx Aud signal for broadcasting.

[0009] Similarly, unidirectional Rx Aud signal path from the radio
transceiver connector element 102 to switching system member 104
facilitates transmission of audio from the radio transceiver 204 through
the external accessory connector element 202 to the wireless terminal
switched device port apparatus 100. Additional signal and/or information
communication paths may optionally be included between the switching
system member 104 and operatively connected to the radio transceiver
connector element 102, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present teachings.

[0010] The wired accessory port connector element 110 is operatively
connected to the switching system member 104. In one embodiment, the
wired accessory port connector element 110 is operatively coupled to the
switching system member 104 via a bidirectional CONTROL signal path, a
unidirectional transmitted audio signal path (Tx Aud), a unidirectional
received audio signal (Rx Aud), and a unidirectional PTT signal path, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. A wired accessory 214 is optionally connected to
the wired accessory port connector element 110 via a wired communications
channel. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure include a broad
variety of potential wired accessories 214, which may be connected to the
wired accessory port connector element 110, such as for example a wired
microphone 206, a wired headset 208, a wired PTT 210, and a wired
earphone 212. The wired accessories 214 listed herein are for
illustrative purposes and the listed devices herein are exemplary,
however additional wired devices may be configured to operatively connect
to the wired accessory port connector element 110 as required by a user.
Additional wired devices include devices adapted to provide input and/or
output of information and/or control signals into the wired accessory
port connector element 110.

[0011] The wireless transceiver element 106 is operatively connected to
the switching system member 104. In one embodiment, the wireless
transceiver element 106 is operatively coupled to the switching system
member 104 via a bidirectional CONTROL signal path, a unidirectional
transmitted audio signal path (Tx Aud), a unidirectional received audio
signal (Rx Aud), and a unidirectional PTT signal path, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. A plurality of interface elements facilitates this connectivity.
The wireless transceiver element 106 is operatively coupled to a wireless
accessory 220. A plurality of wireless accessories are available to
connect to the wireless transceiver element 106, such as for example a
wireless earphone 222, a wireless PTT 224, a wireless microphone 226,
and/or a wireless headset 230. A wireless communications channel
facilitates operative connectivity between the wireless accessory 220 and
the wireless transceiver element 106. The wireless communications channel
is further facilitated by an antenna 108, which is electrically coupled
to the wireless transceiver element 106. The wireless accessory 220 is
configured to send and/or receive information or control signals as
necessary.

[0012] In one illustrative exemplary embodiment of the present teachings,
a wireless communications channel is facilitated via a Bluetooth®
protocol channel. Bluetooth® is a wireless protocol for exchanging
data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, which can
operate to connect several devices. Bluetooth® is generally defined
as a layer protocol architecture consisting of core protocols, cable
replacement protocols, telephony control protocols, and adopted
protocols. Bluetooth® is a popular technology for wirelessly
connecting a microphone, earphone and/or speaker to a cellular telephone,
music player or similar device. One more specialized device is a two-way
transceiver radio. Two-way radios, specifically handheld or "Portable"
radios typically have external connectors for the attachment of wired
remote Microphones and Speaker (or Earphones). Many two-way radio and
two-way radio accessory manufacturers are now offering devices with
Bluetooth® technology that can attach to the two-way radios' external
accessory connectors and allow the use of commercial headsets, earphones,
etc or similar devices customized specifically for the two-way radio user
needs. While a Bluetooth® device provides the convenience of wireless
connectivity it cannot provide as many options for external microphone
and speaker/earphone optional as what is available in a wired version.
The present disclosure has solved this problem by developing an apparatus
that combines the convenience of wireless (e.g., Bluetooth®) with the
vast variety of wired accessories.

[0013] One embodiment of the present disclosure combines normal wireless
Bluetooth® operation with a wired accessory port connector element
110 and provides this combination with mechanisms to automatically switch
between the Bluetooth® and a wired accessory 214 with minimal
interaction with the operator. This switching intelligence facilitates a
successful combination of wireless and wired devices otherwise reliable
communications can be compromised. And since two-way radios are a vital
tool of Police, Fire, Military, Security and other critical operations
communications reliability is paramount. In this embodiment of the
present disclosure, the wireless transceiver element 106 comprises a
Bluetooth® transceiver. According to one feature of Bluetooth®,
one master and six slaves constitute a piconet, and an ad-hoc
communication network is constructed among the devices constituting the
piconet. That is, seven devices are connected to one piconet, and one
among the seven devices becomes a master that manages the piconet, such
as generation of a frequency hopping pattern, while the remainders serve
as slaves. In the Bluetooth® embodiment of the present teachings, the
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 serves as the
master, and the wireless accessories 220 (e.g., a wireless earphone 222,
a wireless PTT 224, a wireless microphone 226, and/or a wireless headset
230) serve as the slaves. Also, according to the present disclosure, the
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 and the wireless
headset 230 perform Bluetooth® communications using a headset profile
(HSP), and the wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 and
the wireless PTT 224 perform Bluetooth® communications using a serial
port profile (SSP). Here, the Bluetooth profiles define protocol
arrangements for respective applications. That is, the profiles specify
methods of mounting software stacks by application appliances to secure
the interoperability among Bluetooth® products from different
manufacturers. In the profile, functions of Bluetooth® layers and
relations between such layers and applications have been defined. In
Bluetooth® version 1.0, 13 profile types have been defined, and
operations for newly appropriating insufficient profiles have been
steadily conducted by working groups.

Switching Operations

Wired to Wireless

[0014] In accordance with one embodiment of the present teachings, an
operation facilitating automated switching between a wired accessory 214
and a wireless accessory 220 is now disclosed. In this embodiment, a
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 is operatively
connected to a wired accessory 214 in a wired communications channel,
facilitated by the wired accessory port connector element 110. As
described above, the wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100
provides communications pathways for information and/or control signals
between the wired accessory 214 and a radio transceiver 204. According to
the present teachings, when a user physically disconnects the wired
accessory 214 from the wired accessory port connector element 110, a
disconnect control signal ("DCNTRL") is transmitted along a control path
to the switching system member 104. The switching system member 104
relays DCNTRL to a wireless transceiver element 106 (e.g., a
Bluetooth® transceiver) which in turn, initiates a wireless search.
In one embodiment, the wireless search activates an antenna 108, which
begins searching for a wireless accessory 220 corresponding to the
previously disconnected wired accessory 214. In one exemplary embodiment,
if a wired headset 208 is disconnected from the wired accessory port
connector element 110, the DCNTRL signal is immediately sent to the
switching system member 104. The switching system member 104 then relays
DCNTRL to the wireless transceiver 106, which then activates the antenna
108, thereby causing a search of a local physical region for a wireless
headset 230 in operational range of a wireless communications channel
(e.g., Bluetooth®). In one embodiment, employing Bluetooth® as
the wireless protocol, a headset profile (HSP) is utilized as the profile
to establish an operative wireless communications channel for
connectivity between the wireless headset 230 and the Bluetooth®
transceiver 106.

Wireless to Wired

[0015] In accordance with one embodiment of the present teachings, an
operation facilitating automated switching between a wireless accessory
220 and a wired accessory 214 is now disclosed. In this embodiment, a
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 is operatively
connected to a wireless accessory 220 in a wireless communications
channel, facilitated by an antenna 108. In this exemplary embodiment, it
is initially assumed that a corresponding wired accessory 214 is not
physically connected to a wired port connector element 110. That is, if
the wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 is operatively
connected to a wireless accessory 220, such as for example a wireless
headset 230, via a wireless communications channel (e.g., Bluetooth®)
through the antenna 108, it is initially assumed that no physical
connection exists between a wired headset 208 and the wired port
connector element 110. However, according to the present teachings,
during a time when a wireless communications channel is operatively
connecting the wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 to
the wireless headset 230, when a user does physically connect the wired
headset 208 to the wired accessory port connector element 110, a connect
control signal ("CCNTRL") is transmitted along a control path to a
switching system member 104. The switching system member 104 then relays
CCNTRL to the wireless transceiver element 106, preparing the wireless
transceiver element 106 to cease communications operations in the
wireless channel, with respect to the wireless headset 230. It should be
noted that in some embodiments of the present disclosure, this will not
affect the wireless operation of other wireless accessories 220 operating
in the wireless channel with the wireless terminal switched device port
apparatus. That is, only a wired accessory 214 having a corresponding
wirelessly operating accessory will be affected by this operation. Once
CCNTRL prepares the wireless transceiver element 106 to cease operations,
the switching system member 104 attempts to detect an operational signal
on a Tx Aud signal path between the wired accessory port connector
element 110 and the switching system member 104. The operational signal
Tx Aud, in this embodiment, indicates that the newly connected wired
accessory is functional and operational. At this point, the switching
system member 104 operates to send a cease wireless operations signal,
along a control signal path, to the wireless transceiver element 106, to
cease operation of the corresponding wireless accessory in the wireless
communications channel. However, in some embodiments, transmission of the
CCNTRL signal will immediately cease the operation of the wireless
accessory 220 in the wireless communications channel, while
simultaneously initiating a wired communications channel between the
wired accessory 214 and the wireless terminal switched device port
apparatus 104.

[0016] When the wireless accessory 220 is operatively connected to the
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100, the switching
system member 104 operates to functionally connect the wireless accessory
220 to the radio transceiver connector element 102, such that the
wireless accessory 220 is effectively functionally coupled to a radio
transceiver 204. Hence, in one embodiment, when a wireless headset 230 is
operating in the wireless communications channel, sending and receiving
electromagnetic signals to and from the antenna 108, the wireless headset
is effectively functionally coupled to the radio transceiver 204. When,
as described in the embodiments above, the wireless channel operations
cease due to a wired channel operation commencing, then the wired
accessory 214 is functionally coupled to the radio transceiver 204. That
is, in one embodiment, when a wired headset 208 is physically connected
to the wired accessory port connector element 110, during a time when the
wireless headset 230 is operating in the wireless channel, and therefore
operatively coupled to the radio transceiver 204, the CCNTRL signal will
initiate the termination of the wireless headset 230 operation, and
initiate the operation of the wired communications channel between the
wired headset 208 and the radio transceiver 204, via the wireless
terminal switched device port apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the
switching of the aforementioned operations will not affect operation of
other wireless or wired accessories.

[0017] Firefighters often use a special type of two-way radio accessory
called a throat microphone. A throat microphone picks up voice signals
for the radio transmitter directly from vibrations of the larynx and not
from the mouth. This system provides very clear and understandable
communications when the operator is in a high ambient noise environment
(sirens, fire truck engine, pumps, etc.). However once back at the
station the throat microphone is no longer needed and a wireless earpiece
(e.g., Bluetooth®) would be more convenient. Therefore, if the
firefighter had a device using the described teachings he could simply
plug in his throat microphone when he dressed to fight fire and unplug it
again when he returned to the firehouse and in both cases would not have
to turn off his radio or be concerned about missing any messages.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present teachings, if a wireless accessory
220 operationally fails (e.g., battery loses power), the wireless
transceiver element 108 sends a NONOP control signal to the switching
system member 104, wherein the switching system member 104 will attempt
to connect with a corresponding wired accessory 214 physically connected
to the wired accessory port connector element 110. In one exemplary
embodiment, if a wireless earphone 222 is functionally connected to the
wireless terminal switched device port apparatus 100 via a wireless
communications channel, and the wireless earphone 222 power fails (e.g.,
battery fails), the wireless transceiver element 108 will detect this
failure and transmit a NONOP control signal to the switching system
member 104. The switching control system member 104 will attempt to
detect and operationally connect to a wired earphone 212 in a wired
communication channel via the wired accessory port connector element 110.

[0019] The present teachings may be practiced with other system
configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,
microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PC's,
minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The present teachings
may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks
are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a
communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program
modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

[0020] The embodiments described herein above may operate in a networked
environment using logical connections to one or more remote devices.
These logical connections can be achieved using a communication device
that is coupled to or be a part of the computer; the present teachings
are not limited to a particular type of communications device. The remote
device may be a computer, a microprocessor, a server, a router, a network
PC, a client, a peer device or other common network node, and typically
includes many or all of the elements described above. The logical
connections include a local-area network (LAN) and a wide-area network
(WAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in office networks,
enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet, which are
all types of networks.

[0021] When used in a LAN-networking environment, the computer is
connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter,
which is one type of communications device. When used in a WAN-networking
environment, the computer typically includes a modem, a type of
communications device, or any other type of communications device for
establishing communications over the wide area network, such as the
Internet.

[0022] Alternative implementations are suggested, but it is impractical to
list all alternative implementations of the present teachings. Therefore,
the scope of the presented disclosure should be determined only by
reference to the appended claims, and should not be limited by features
illustrated in the foregoing description except insofar as such
limitation is recited in an appended claim.

[0023] While the above description has pointed out novel features of the
present disclosure as applied to various embodiments, the skilled person
will understand that various omissions, substitutions, permutations, and
changes in the form and details of the present teachings illustrated may
be made without departing from the scope of the present teachings.

[0024] Each practical and novel combination of the elements and
alternatives described hereinabove, and each practical combination of
equivalents to such elements, is contemplated as an embodiment of the
present teachings. Because many more element combinations are
contemplated as embodiments of the present teachings than can reasonably
be explicitly enumerated herein, the scope of the present teachings is
properly defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description. All variations coming within the meaning and range of
equivalency of the various claim elements are embraced within the scope
of the corresponding claim. Each claim set forth below is intended to
encompass any apparatus or method that differs only insubstantially from
the literal language of such claim, as long as such apparatus or method
is not, in fact, an embodiment of the prior art. To this end, each
described element in each claim should be construed as broadly as
possible, and moreover should be understood to encompass any equivalent
to such element insofar as possible without also encompassing the prior
art. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in
either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to
be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising".